“Ruins”, Lost Girls

This way: Ruins

This is a terrible name for a band, you can't find the band, there are too many things that are close enough. Jenny Hval (born 11 July 1980) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, record producer, and novelist. She has released eight solo albums, two under the alias Rockettothesky and six under her own name. But can I be sure? Good songs though . . . .

[Spotify] Ruins   

“Body Bag”, Effigies, RIP John Kezdy

This way: Body Bag

Some great Chicago Punk rock. And another in the Punk becomes Lawyer continuing saga. The Effigies were an American punk band from Chicago. The band played its first show in 1980 and was active initially for approximately a decade, undergoing multiple personnel changes with frontman John Kezdy the only constant, before disbanding in 1990. The band released 5 albums and several EPs, most on the record label they founded in 1981, Ruthless Records, which was distributed by Enigma. Later albums were on the Fever Records and Roadkill Records labels. They toured the U.S. and Canada and played notable venues, including CBGB, Maxwell's, First Avenue, Mabuhay Gardens, Paycheck's (Detroit), Exit (Chicago) and The Rathskeller, among others. They also received a significant amount of national airplay on college radio at a time when it was the only medium for alternative music. 

[Spotify] Body Bag

“International Pop Overthrow”, Material Issue

This way: International Pop Overthrow

Material Issue was an American power pop trio from Chicago, Illinois. The band's trademark is pop songs with themes of love and heartbreak. A number of their song titles used women's first names.

Material Issue was formed in 1985, led by frontman Jim Ellison, who played guitar, sang lead vocals, and wrote most of the band's songs. Ellison met bassist Ted Ansani while both were attending Columbia College Chicago in 1986. Drummer Mike Zelenko was found through an ad in the Illinois Entertainer later that year.

In 1987, Material Issue released an eponymous EP on their own label, Big Block. The label operated out of Ellison's bedroom at his parents' home in Addison, Illinois, and was named for the big block engines of the 1970s muscle cars Ellison loved. In 1988, their song "Sixteen Tambourines" appeared on CMJ New Music Report's compilation and their music was described by CMJ as a "hooky brand of high-powered psycho-pop". In 1989, Material Issue released the single "Renee Remains The Same", which received heavy airplay around Chicago. 

Material Issue continued touring, selling out venues throughout the upper Midwest. Throughout the remainder of 1995 and into 1996, Material Issue recorded a set of new songs with the intention of shopping them to a new label. However, Ellison died by suicide on June 20, 1996 by carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage. A note was found by police, the contents of which were not released publicly. The recordings from 1995 and 1996 were released posthumously on Telecommando Americano in 1997 by Rykodisc as the final Material Issue release, along with the band's six-song debut EP from 1987 as a bonus. 

[Spotify] International Pop Overthrow

“Metal Beat”, John Foxx-Metamatic—NPA

This way: Metal Beat

Near Perfect Album 

Metamatic is the debut solo album by John Foxx, released in 1980. It was his first solo project following his split with Ultravox the previous year. A departure from the mix of synthesizers and conventional rock instrumentation on that band's work, Metamatic was purely electronic in sound. The name 'Metamatic' comes from a painting machine by kinetic artist Jean Tinguely, first exhibited at the Paris Biennial in 1959.

Metamatic was recorded at Pathway Studios, a small eight-track studio in Islington, and was engineered by Gareth Jones. Foxx's electronic equipment included an ARP Odyssey, an Elka 'String Machine' and a Roland CR-78 drum machine. Several of the synth parts were played by John Wesley-Barker.

The album was heavily influenced by the writings of J. G. Ballard. Six of the tracks referenced automobiles or motorways, most obviously "Underpass" and "No-One Driving". (Foxx re-worked the former track as "Overpass" on the live Subterranean Omnidelic Exotour in 1998). The song "He's a Liquid" was influenced by a still from a Japanese horror film depicting a suit draped across a chair in such a way as to suggest that the wearer had liquified; Foxx's lyrics also alluded to the 'fluidity' of human relationships. The final track, "Touch and Go", included psychedelic aspects.

Although Foxx had performed "He's a Liquid" and "Touch and Go" live with Ultravox before leaving the band in 1979, the band was not credited for them on Metamatic. When Ultravox adapted the tune from "Touch and Go" for the song "Mr. X" on Vienna (1980), their first album following Foxx's departure, Foxx was not credited.

[Spotify] Metal Beat

[Spotify, album] Metamatic 

[album] Metamatic 

“Boys Don’t Cry”, The Cure

This way: Boys Don’t Cry

This album, seriously. This LP hit hard back in those days. For some reason the England to USA record releasing is jumbled for The Cure. Some super smart record executive surmises the LP cover and song list must be jiggered to fly across the pond, ok, whatever. This is the one I had. And it is glorious. So many good songs, and the pop element in with the grit. Of course the stellar song writing as always. . . . .  

[Spotify] Boys Don’t Cry

“The Future‘s So Bright (I Gotta Wear Shades)”, Timbuk 3

This way: The Future’s So Bright

Timbuk 3 as an American rock band which released six original studio albums between 1986 and 1995. They are best known for their Top 20 single "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades". The band's music has been featured on more than 20 compilation and soundtrack albums.

Timbuk 3 was formed in 1984 in Madison, Wisconsin, by the husband-and-wife team of Pat MacDonald (acoustic, electric, bass and MIDI guitars, harmonica, vocals, drum programming) and Barbara Kooyman (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin, rhythm programming, vocals). In 1991 Wally Ingram (drums) and Courtney Audain (bass) joined the duo. 

[Spotify] The Future’s So Bright

“This Heat”, Deeper

This way: This Heat

Deeper is a band based in Chicago, Illinois and consists of Shiraz Bhatti, Nic Gohl, Drew McBride and Kevin Fairbairn. This band has two Mike Nesmiths, which will always set them apart. 

[Spotify] This Heat

“Love is the Law”, The Suburbs

This way: Love is the Law

Wholly New Wave Batman! Wow, double wow. Every New Wave hair on my body is standing on end. 

The Suburbs are an alternative punk rock/new wave band from Minneapolis, Minnesota that was popular in the late 1970s and 1980s. The band frequently headlined at Minneapolis's most influential music clubs, including Jay's Longhorn Bar and First Avenue. 

The Suburbs were formed in the western suburbs of Minneapolis in November 1977 following introductions by Chris Osgood of the Suicide Commandos. Following live performances, they released The Suburbs on the Twin/Tone label (the label's first release) in early 1978. The record was a nine-song 7-inch red vinyl EP. The band also saw two songs, "Urban Guerrillas" and "Ailerons O.K.", included on the compilation Big Hits of Mid-America, Volume Three. Guitarist Bruce C. Allen did the art direction for the compilation. 

After building a following playing basement parties, the Suburbs had their first major success at influential Minneapolis punk/New Wave nexus Jay's Longhorn Bar; drummer Hugo Klaers said that after getting regular gigs at the venue, "we went from nobodies to this super popular band. It was just crazy. The Longhorn shows were always packed." One notable audience member at the Suburbs' shows was Bruce Springsteen, then on tour supporting his album The River, who was so impressed with the band that he nearly joined them on stage for an encore. The band's popularity increased during the early to mid-1980s, and during this time, their new wave dance sound, eclectic lyrics, and stage presence gained a following that broke out of the Midwest and reached both coasts. In 1980 Twin/Tone released their first full-length LP, In Combo.

[Spotify] Love is the Law

“(Knife in the) Marathon”, Breaking Circus

This way: (Knife in the) Marathon

Breaking Circus was a punk band from the 1980s, based in Chicago and later Minneapolis, founded by guitarist and vocalist Steve Björklund.

Björklund had played guitar and sang for Chicago punk band Strike Under after a short stint in the group Terminal Beach, Breaking Circus was his next project, originally with bassist Bruce Lange and a Roland TR-606 drum machine. Breaking Circus signed to Homestead Records for their first release, The Very Long Fuse EP (1985), featuring the song "Marathon", which has been cited as "stuck in several thousand heads" and a "college-radio favorite"

In 1986, Björklund moved to Minneapolis and began working with Rifle Sport bassist Pete "Flour" Conway and drummer/guitarist Todd Trainer. In 1986 the band released a song, Driving the Dynamite Truck on the Twin/Tone compilation Big Hits of Mid-America Volume Four, with a slightly different lineup having Tony Pucci of Man Sized Action in the drummer's chair. Homestead Records released the band's The Ice Machine LP with the album's credits appearing as a Monopoly-style drinking game insert.

Guitarist Phil Harder filled out the band for a national tour before Breaking Circus returned home to record another LP that was to feature four songs by Björklund, four by Conway, and four by Trainer. When the band arrived in the studio, they received word from Homestead that the label would only pay for six of the twelve songs that they had originally planned to record. All four of Björklund's songs and one by each of the other members were recorded and released as the EP Smokers' Paradise in 1987. The band broke up in 1988.  

[Spotify No!]

“Pod”, Snõõper

This way: Pod

Snõõper began as a collaboration between local Nashville punk mainstay Connor Cummins and Blair Tramel, an early education teacher with a sideline in wickedly funny animation and art. As their cassette tapes and homemade videos began to find scattered fans around the world, the duo brought the Project to the live stage in late 2021 and Snõõper (the Band) was born.

Featuring one of the wildest live shows out there, as well a maelstrom of puppets, 8 bit animation, papier-mâché, whistles, flashing lights and a whirling dervish of bodies, Snõõper commits the live act to a studio setting and sets the stage for one of the most promising punk debut albums in decades.

[Spotify] Pod

“Me, I Disconnect from You”, Gary Numan

This way: Me, I Disconnect from You

Gary Numan, is an English musician. He entered the music industry as frontman of the new wave band Tubeway Army. After releasing two albums with the band, he released his debut solo album The Pleasure Principle in 1979, topping the UK Albums Chart. While his commercial popularity peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s with hits including "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars" (both of which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart), Numan maintains a cult following. He has sold over 10 million records. 

Numan faced intense hostility from critics and fellow musicians in his early career, but has since come to be regarded as a pioneer of electronic music. He developed a signature sound consisting of heavy synthesiser hooks fed through guitar effects pedals, and is also known for his distinctive voice and androgynous "android" persona. In 2017, he received an Ivor Novello Award, the Inspiration Award, from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. Replicas was recorded in late 1978 at Gooseberry Studios, London and completed in February 1979 with overdubs and remixing at Marcus Music Studios.

[Spotify] Me, I Disconnect from You

“M.E.”, Wand

This way: M.E.”

This is a Gary Numan cover . . . .  Wand is an American psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States, formed in 2013. The band consists of Cory Hanson (vocals, guitar), Sofia Arreguin (synth, vocals), Robert Cody (guitar), Lee Landey (bass) and Evan Burrows (drums).

Since their formation, the band has released five albums in five years: Ganglion Reef (2014), Golem (2015), 1000 Days (2015), Plum (2017) and Laughing Matter (2019).  

Formation and Ganglion Reef (2013–2014)

Prior to forming Wand, vocalist and guitarist Cory Hanson performed under the moniker W.H.I.T.E. Hanson also played guitar with Mikal Cronin, and in the bands together PANGEA, and Meatbodies. Working on the songs that would become the band's debut album, Ganglion Reef, Hanson subsequently re-recorded his material after forming Wand with former art school classmates Lee Landey and Evan Burrows: "found a band, and we re-recorded everything and then just started playing... really intensely." Regarding the band's name, Hanson noted: "We wanted a name that was kind of empty, like a wand is more of an idea, like a magical tool; it's a means, a vessel to execute a superhuman thing."

[Spotify] M.E.”

“Getting Nowhere Fast”, Girls at Our Best!

This way: Getting Nowhere Fast

Girls at Our Best! were an English punk band, founded in Leeds, England in 1979 under the name The Butterflies. They had several UK Independent Singles Chart hits during their three-year existence. The group initially consisted of vocalist Judy "Jo" Evans, guitarist James "Jez" Alan, bassist Gerard "Terry" Swift and drummer Chris Oldroyd. 

They took their new name from a line in their track "Warm Girls", released as the B-side to their self-financed 1980 debut single "Getting Nowhere Fast". The single, released in April 1980 on their own Record Records, reached No. 9 on the UK Indie Chart.

Oldroyd departed to join Music for Pleasure, and was replaced by Paul Simon (formerly of Limmie Funk Limited, Neo, Radio Stars, the Civilians and Cowboys International).

Second single "Politics", backed by "It's Fashion!", was released in November 1980, also on Record Records. It was distributed by Rough Trade, reaching No. 12.

Simon was replaced by Darren Carl Harper (formerly of the Expelaires) before Girls at Our Best! recorded their session for John Peel on 17 February 1981, which was first broadcast 23 February 1981. The group's next single, "Go for Gold", issued in June 1981 by Happy Birthday Records, became their biggest Indie Chart hit, reaching No. 4.

On 20 October 1981, the group released their sole album, Pleasure. Rod Johnson shared drumming duties with Harper, who had left the band during the recording process in summer 1981. The album, the first to be released on the Happy Birthday label, came complete with a "Pleasure Bag" of stickers and postcards. Pleasure reached No. 2 on the UK Indie Chart and No. 60 on the UK Albums Chart, followed by the band's fourth single, "Fast Boyfriends" (backed by "This Train"), released by Happy Birthday in October 1981.

Girls at Our Best! split in 1982.

[Spotify] Getting Nowhere Fast

“Church ”, Rifle Sport

This way: Church

Rifle Sport was an American punk band active in the 1980s and 1990s, from Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

The band took its name from an arcade in downtown Minneapolis which was open in the 1940s to 1960s. An unrelated art gallery, Rifle Sport Gallery, also named after the arcade and housed in its old space, established their name after the band.

The drummer and vocalist Todd Trainer later joined the Big Black front man Steve Albini's band, Shellac.

Rifle Sport was honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh. Unlike most of the other stars on the mural, Rifle Sport's is hidden from view, underneath the awning of the door to the 7th Street Entry.

[Spotify, No!]

“Yard of Blonde Girls”, Jeff Buckley

This way: Yard of Blonde Girls

Jeff got lost along the way. Seemed like a troubled lad. His father was the musician Tim Buckley, a 60s icon of sorts. And did not raise Jeff. Its hard to find the definitive track that sums up Jeff Buckley. This one sounds more 90's alt than busted folk. But he wasnt around long enough to make anything stick.

 

An American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. After a decade as a session guitarist in Los Angeles, Buckley amassed a following in the early 1990s by performing cover songs at venues in East Village, Manhattan, such as Sin-é, while gradually focusing more on his own material. After rebuffing interest from record labels and Herb Cohen—the manager of his father, singer Tim Buckley— he signed with Columbia, recruited a band, and recorded what would be his only studio album, Grace, in 1994.

Over the following three years, the band toured extensively to promote Grace, including concerts in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Australia. In 1996, they stopped touring and made sporadic attempts to record Buckley's second album in New York City with Tom Verlaine as the producer.

In 1997, Buckley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to resume work on the album, to be titled My Sweetheart the Drunk, recording many four-track demos while also playing weekly solo shows at a local venue. On May 29, 1997, while awaiting the arrival of his band from New York, he drowned during a spontaneous evening swim, fully clothed, in the Mississippi River, where he was caught in the wake of a passing boat; his body was found on June 4.

[Spotify] Yard of Blonde Girls

“Radio Free Europe”, R.E.M.-Murmur—NPA

This way: Radio Free Europe

Near Perfect Album

For some reason I love songs that I have no idea what they are talking about. I’ve also realized I cannot or do not follow a plot in a movie or TV show. I’m just watching these characters walking around blindly thru life. Well here is a perfect album for me, I cant understand what he is saying in most songs. Murmur is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 12, 1983, by I.R.S. Records. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its unusual sound, defined by lead singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck’s jangly guitar style, and bass guitarist Mike Mills's melodic basslines. 

R.E.M. started preparing for their debut album in December 1982. I.R.S. paired R.E.M. with producer Stephen Hague, who had a higher profile than the band's previous producer Mitch Easter. Hague's emphasis on technical perfection did not suit the band; the producer made the group perform multiple takes of the song “Catapult”, which demoralized drummer Bill Berry. Also, Hague took the completed track to Synchro Sound studios in Boston and added keyboard parts to the track without the band's permission and to their dismay. Unsatisfied, the band members asked the label to let them record with Easter. I.R.S. agreed to a tryout session, allowing the band to travel to North Carolina and record the song ‘Pilgrimage’ with Easter and producing partner Don Dixon. After hearing the track, I.R.S. permitted the group to record the album with Dixon and Easter.

[Spotify] Radio Free Europe

[Spotify, album] Murmur 

“Full of Tension”, Wall of Voodoo

This way: Full of Tension

One of my all time favorite bands. Wall of Voodoo was an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Though largely an underground act for the majority of its existence, the band came to prominence when its 1982 single "Mexican Radio" became a hit on MTV and alternative radio. The band was known for surrealist lyrics drawing on iconography of the American southwest.

Wall of Voodoo had its roots in Acme Soundtracks, a film score business started by Stan Ridgway, later the vocalist and harmonica player for Wall of Voodoo. Acme Soundtracks' office was across the street from the Hollywood punk club The Masque and Ridgway was soon drawn into the emerging punk/new wave scene. Marc Moreland, guitarist for the Skulls, began jamming with Ridgway at the Acme Soundtracks office and the soundtrack company morphed into a new wave band. In 1977, with the addition of Skulls members Bruce Moreland (Marc Moreland's brother) as bassist and Chas T. Gray as keyboardist, along with Joe Nanini, who had been the drummer for the Bags, the Eyes, and Black Randy and the Metrosquad, the first lineup of the band was born, named Wall of Voodoo before their first show in reference to a comment made by Joe Berardi, a friend of Ridgway's and member of the Fibonaccis.

[Spotify] Full of Tension

“Every word Means No”, Let's Active

This way: Every word Means No

Let's Active was an American rock group formed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1981, and often identified with the jangle pop guitar work of the group's frontman and songwriter Mitch Easter. After disbanding in 1990, the group reformed in August 2014 to play a benefit show in North Carolina.

Let's Active was formed in 1981 by Mitch Easter, a guitarist and songwriter best known as a record producer, with Faye Hunter on bass. Drummer Sara Romweber, then 17 years old (a full decade younger than Hunter and Easter), joined to form the original trio two weeks before their first live performance. 

The name of the group was taken from a T-shirt sold in Japan bearing an inadvertently nonsensical English phrase (a popular fashion at the time). In a 1984 interview, Hunter said, "It's embarrassing for people to ask you what the name of your group is and you don't want to say it out loud", and noted that the band had been erroneously billed by promoters as "Let's Dance" and "Les Active".

The group played their first performance on November 13, 1981, at the 688 Club in Atlanta, opening for R.E.M., whose first EP, Chronic Town (1982), was produced by Easter. He also co-produced R.E.M.'s first two albums (1983's Murmur and 1984's Reckoning) with Don Dixon.

[Spotify] Every word Means No

“Too Many Creeps”, Bush Tetras

This way: Too Many Creeps

Bush Tetras are an American punk No Wave band from New York City, formed in 1979. They are best known for the 1980 song "Too Many Creeps", which exemplified the band's sound of "jagged rhythms, slicing guitars, and sniping vocals". Although they did not achieve mainstream success, the Bush Tetras were influential and popular in the Manhattan club scene and college radio in the early 1980s. New York's post-punk revival of the 2000s was accompanied by a resurgence of interest in the genre, with the Tetras' influence heard in many of that scene's bands.

The Bush Tetras formed in 1979, and soon solidified with a lineup of Cynthia Sley (vocals), Pat Place (guitar), Laura Kennedy (bass) and Dee Pop (drums); vocalist Adele Bertei and guitarist Jimmy Joe Uliana were brief early members. Place had previously been the original guitarist and a founding member of the no wave band the Contortions, though the Tetras sound was less frantic and disjointed, and she had also appeared in some of Vivienne Dick's movies. 

[Spotify] Too Many Creeps

“Crusher”, Jet Fuel Soda

This way: Crusher

Nev on the bass

Chris on the kit

Tom on the guitar and vox

From Philadelphia, PA. 

[Spotify] Crusher

“Cowboy Actress”, One Trick Pony

[Spotify] Cowboy Actress

Philadelphia band, the work of Nate Garcia.  

“Hardcore UFO’s”, Guided By Voices-Bee Thousand—NPA

This way: Hardcore UFO’s

Near Perfect Album

Is the song under 2 minutes? Yes, it should be, fucking time wasters and guitar solos. Cut to the damn chase. Bee Thousand is the seventh album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices, released on June 21, 1994, on Scat Records. After its release the band became one of the more prominent groups associated with the "lo-fi" genre, a movement defined by the relatively low fidelity of audio releases. Musically, the album draws inspiration from British Invasion-era rock music and punk rock. Following the release of Bee Thousand, the band began to attract interest from other record labels, eventually signing with Matador for their next album. Amplified to rock. Apparently if you hold your tongue and say 'Pete Townsend' it sounds like Bee Thousand.

[Spotify] Hardcore UFO’s

[Spotify, album] Bee Thousand 

“The Great American Picnic”, Being Dead

This way: The Great American Picnic

A song should be around 2 minutes. Like this one. After five years together, a trio of singles and a lively EP called Fame Money Death By Drive By, Texas-based trio Being Dead—Falcon Bitch, Gumball and Ricky Moto—have announced their proper debut album, When Horses Would Run. Being Dead are the mythical, jazzed-out surf punks straight out of our greatest urban legends; as a singular machine, they’re rendered like a perfect amalgamation of this band, a band, and another band. Great new LP: When Horses Would Run.   

[Spotify] The Great American Picnic

“Nothing Came Out”, The Moldy Peaches

This way: Nothing Came Out

The Moldy Peaches are an American indie group founded by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson. Leading proponents of the anti-folk scene, the band had been on hiatus since 2004, but in 2023 announced they would be reuniting on Twitter. The appearance of their song "Anyone Else but You" in the film Juno significantly raised their profile; Dawson and Green made a handful of reunion appearances together in December 2007.   

Green and Dawson met at Exile on Main Street Records in Mount Kisco, New York, and began working together. Green put out a 7" Ep called "X-Ray Vision" under the name The Moldy Peaches, featuring recordings he made from 1994–96 with Dawson and various other friends, notably Jules Sheridan, a songwriter based in Scotland. Green and Dawson recorded a CDR album in 1998 under the name Moldy Peaches 2000 called FER THE KIDS before Dawson moved to Port Townsend, Washington. 

[Spotify] Nothing Came Out

“Wretched Lie”, The Tubs

This way: Wretched Lie

The Tubs were formed in 2019 by Owen Williams and George Nicholls, formerly of much-loved Welsh pop band Joanna Gruesome. The two hunkered down in rural North Wales to expand on the fuzzy, hook-laden sounds they propagated in their former outfit, this time incorporating elements of post-punk, traditional British folk, and guitar jangle seasoned by nonchalant Cleaners From Venus-influenced pop hooks & contemporary antipodean indie bands (Twerps/Goon Sax, et al). They hit the ground running, releasing the “I Don’t Know How It Works” 7-inch on Prefect Records in Feb. 2020 and playing gigs with UK colleagues like Porridge Radio, Ex-Void and Marcel Wave, as well as support for Flasher & Public Practice. After a few lineup shuffles, they recruited Max Warren (bass), Steve Stonholdt (guitar) and Matthew Green (drums) to solidify the current lineup. Trouble In Mind is honored to be co-releasing their newest effort worldwide, the “Names” 7-inch EP - our first 7-inch release in four years (that’s how good it is!) - alongside Prefect Records in the UK.  

[Spotify] Wretched Lie

“Happy Nightmare Baby”, Opal

This way: Happy Nightmare Baby

Opal was an American rock band in the 1980s. They were part of the Paisley Underground musical style. The band's name is derived from "Opel", a song by Syd Barrett.

The group formed in the mid-1980s under the name Clay Allison, featuring guitarist David Roback (previously of Rain Parade), bassist Kendra Smith (from Dream Syndicate) and drummer Keith Mitchell. After one single, they released the remaining Clay Allison tracks under the band's new name, Opal, on the 1984 Fell from the Sun EP. Another EP, Northern Line, followed in 1985. These EPs were later compiled and released as Early Recordings.

Happy Nightmare Baby, Opal's first full-length album, was released in 1987. Smith left the group during the Happy Nightmare tour after a show in Providence, Rhode Island. Roback continued with vocalist Hope Sandoval, playing shows as Opal and planning an album to be titled Ghost Highway but in 1989 this band became Mazzy Star and Ghost Highway was presumably released as She Hangs Brightly. Kendra Smith released a number of solo singles, EPs, and one album before retiring to the woods of northern California.   

[Spotify] Happy Nightmare Baby

“Dancing Like a Gun”, John Foxx

This way: Dancing Like a Gun

The Garden is a 1981 album by John Foxx, the follow-up to his debut solo album Metamatic, released the previous year. By comparison, it features more diverse instrumentation and romantic stylings. 

The sound and subject matter of The Garden were informed by a number of factors: the composer's Catholic upbringing and early exposure to Latin mass and Gregorian chant; his exploration of England's countryside, architecture and history following the release of Metamatic; and the song "Systems of Romance", which had been written during sessions for the Ultravox album of the same name but was not included on the record, even though its title was used. Another connection between The Garden and Systems of Romance the album was the presence of guitarist Robin Simon, whose textured style had been a significant influence on the sound of the earlier release. Whereas on Metamatic the only conventional instrument had been bass guitar, Foxx used a full band of musicians on The Garden to play electric and acoustic guitar, electric bass, piano, and acoustic percussion, in addition to synthesizers and drum machines.  

[Spotify] Dancing Like a Gun

“Show of Strength”, Echo and the Bunnymen-Heaven up Here—NPA

This way: Show of Strength

Near Perfect Album

Here is a royal gem. Heaven Up Here is the second album by the English band Echo & the Bunnymen, released on 30 May 1981. The songs "A Promise" and "Over the Wall" were released as singles. Recorded at Rockfield Studios near Monmouth in Wales, Heaven Up Here was co-produced by Hugh Jones and the band. An album generally well received by fans in the United Kingdom and by critics, Heaven Up Here won the "Best Dressed LP" and "Best Album" awards at the 1981 NME Awards. The album has also been listed at number 463 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. 

[Spotify] Show of Strength

[Spotify, album] Heaven up Here 

“Too Much on My Mind”, The Kinks

This way: Too Much on My Mind

Here's a great one from a near perfect LP to be sure Face to Face. This is from 1966 when The Kinks were pouring out the hits. They always followed there own path.  

[Spotify] Too Much on My Mind

“I'll Take You In My Car”, The Buddyrevelles

This way: I'll Take You In My Car

The Buddyrevelles are an American indie rock band that is based in Chicago, Illinois. Band members include Aaron Grant on guitars and lead vocals, Scott Hoch on bass and background vocals, and Dan Reinholdt on drums.

The Buddyrevelles formed in 1997 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where they recorded their first album, September, November, which was released by Motorcoat Records. The album received a very strong review from Pitchfork Media, including a 9.1 rating. The review said that "the band sounds like a cross between Chicago post-rock, the best Galaxie 500 material, and the hope of a better future." They subsequently relocated to Chicago, where they recorded their second album, American Matador, released in 2000 also on the Motorcoat label. Pitchfork again reviewed the album positively, giving it an 8.0 rating and calling it "a true step forward for an already excellent band." It also received a glowing review from Rolling Stone. After an extended hiatus, the band resurfaced in 2007 with a new album, Don't Quit on Solitaire Records. They produced a video for the song "I Dream of Rodney" from the album, which won the "best video" award at the 5th annual Sprockets Film Festival in Athens, Georgia. 

[Spotify] I'll Take You In My Car

“Just Like You Said It Would B”, Sinéad O'Conner, RIP

This way: Just Like You Said It Would B

Sad news of the death of Sinéad O'Conner, truly one of the greats. She stood up to the powers and fought the good fight. Often paying a high price. Music? She created some great music. So many good songs. Here is one that doesnt often show up on her list of great ones, a favorite of mine.

[Spotify] Just Like You Said It Would B

“Independence Day”, Palehound

This way: Independence Day

Palehound is an American band fronted by El Kempner who have released three albums, Dry Food (2015), A Place I'll Always Go (2017) and Black Friday (2019); as well as the Bent Nail EP (2013) and a number of 7" singles. The release of the band’s fourth album, Eye on the Bat, is scheduled for July 14, 2023. Initially a solo project, the band currently features Kempner on vocals/guitar, Zoë Brecher on drums and Larz Brogan on bass. In 2015 the band received the Boston Music Award as new artist of the year. 

[Spotify] Independence Day

“Back to This”, Alaska Reid

This way: Back to This

Alaska Reid (born 1996), is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is known for her electronic and country-tinged indie rock sound and narrative-driven lyrical content. She is also known for her collaborations with boyfriend A. G. Cook. 

She initially began releasing music with her band Alyeska in 2015, releasing an EP titled Crush in April 2017.

She began releasing solo material in 2019 with her debut single "Quake". She released her first full-length released titled Big Bunny in December 2020, under Terrible Records. Her debut album Disenchanter is slated for release on 14 July via Luminelle Recordings.

[Spotify] Back to This

“Possession”, Elvis Costello-Get Happy!!—NPA

This way: Possession

Near Perfect Album

Plenty of LPs to chose from here, but this one stands out to me. 20 songs on one record? Bargain . . . Get Happy!! is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his third with the Attractions—keyboardist Steve Nieve, bassist Bruce Thomas and drummer Pete Thomas (no relation). It was released on 15 February 1980 through F-Beat Records in the United Kingdom and Columbia Records in the United States. Produced by Nick Lowe and engineered by Roger Béchirian, the sessions began in London but moved to the Netherlands after Costello found the material derivative of his previous album Armed Forces (1979). The sessions were problematic but amassed a large number of songs; the final album contains 20 tracks across a single LP.

[Spotify] Possession

[Spotify, album] Get Happy!! 

“Old Time Feeling”, S.G. Goodman

This way: Old Time Feeling

S.G. Goodman is an American singer-songwriter. Goodman is from Hickman, Kentucky. The Southern Baptist church played a central role in her childhood in Kentucky. Goodman began performing by singing in church. Her father was a farmer. She has played rhythm guitar since she was 15.

Prior to her solo career, Goodman was part of the band The Savage Radley. Her debut album, Old Time Feeling, was co-produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The album has been described as Americana, folk, country, and rock. She is signed to Verve Forecast Records. In 2021, she, as a solo artist, was inter alia part of the Newport Folk Festival in July. 

[Spotify] Old Time Feeling